Fresh questions over British soldier's death

A senior army officer was last night linked to allegations over the obstruction of an investigation into the killing of a British soldier in Iraq.

Major-General Peter Wall may now be interviewed as part of an inquiry into the death of Sergeant Steven Roberts, the first British trooper to be killed in the Iraq war. His death was one of the most controversial of the war because at the time he was not wearing body armour.

The case is currently being investigated by the Metropolitan Police following concerns raised by the Attorney-General, Lord Goldsmith, over the army's handling of the death.

In September, classified letters seen by The Observer revealed the concerns of the government's most senior lawyer. Referring to the Roberts investigation, Goldsmith told the then defence secretary Geoff Hoon in a memo: 'There is evidence which could be taken to show a concerted attempt by the chain of command to influence and prevent an investigation into this matter.'

Goldsmith later removed the case from the army's control and referred it to the Crown Prosecution Service with any resulting charges to be heard in a civilian court.

Until now Wall's name has not been connected with the case. But reports last night suggested that the investigation could find its way to his door if inquiries led further up the chain of command. Wall would become the most senior officer to be questioned over British deaths during the Iraq war.

Roberts, 33, from Shipley, Yorkshire, was serving as a tank commander with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, near Basra when he was shot in the stomach and chest in March 2003 by his own men. Later it emerged that he was not wearing body armour, as he had been ordered to give his armour to a colleague.

The case took on a political dimension when Roberts's widow, Samantha, prompted Hoon to apologise over the shortage of equipment. In an audiotape made the evening before he died and which his widow later released, Roberts described the lack of equipment as a 'joke'.

A Ministry of Defence said it would not comment on discussions between the Royal Military Police, senior army commanders and legal advisors while the Metropolitan Police investigation continued.